229 years of service honored at CN retirement party
(The following story by Ken Johnston appeared on the Rainy River Record website on May 5, 2009.)
RAINY RIVER, Ontario More than 229 years of service were recognized Saturday when the annual Canadian National Railway retirement party was held at the Rainy River Community Centre.
Seven retirees and their wives were the guest of honour for a roast beef dinner, several presentations of gifts and certificates and a dance featuring a live band.
Ralph Armstrong emceed the event and introduced the retirees and gave some of their history. They are as follows:
Stephen Herman retired as a locomotive engineer with 31 years of experience. He signed on with CNR in June of 1972, worked for a number of years and then took leave for a period of time. He resigned with the company in May of 1981. He was promoted on Jan. 1, 1990 and worked in Thunder Bay and Fort Frances. He officially retired Feb. 28 of 2009.
Ian Johnson began working for CNR April 21, 1973. He worked in Jasper, AB., Gillam, MB., Sioux Lookout, ON., Winnipeg, MB. and Rainy River, ON. He made his last trip on April 28, 2009 and will be officially retired June 30, 2009 with 36 years, 2 months of service. He began as a conductor and was promoted in April of 1975 to engineer.
Wallace Armstrong also began his career with CNR on April 21, 1973 as a conductor. He was later promoted in Feb. of 1989 to engineer. His last trip was with Ian Johnson on April 28, 2009. He worked out of Winnipeg, MB., Jasper, AB., Gillam, MB., Sioux Lookout, ON., Melville, SK., Kamloops, BC. and Rainy River, ON. He retired with 36 years of service.
Darryl Dyck signed on with CNR May 5, 1972 and was promoted on May 5, 1975. He retires officially on July 1, 2009 as a Trainman Conductor. He worked out of Melville, SK., Winnipeg, MB., Jasper, AB., Kamloops, BC., Gillam, MB., Fort Frances, ON., and Rainy River, ON. He retires with 37 years of service.
Ross Keeler became a signal maintainer for CNR back on May 28, 1973. He worked mainly in the Prairie Region and Fort Frances. he retired on Dec. 31, 2008 with 35 years of service.
Brian Nielson began working with CNR on Nov. 19, 1973. He worked in Fort Frances, Rainy River, Flanders, Mine Centre and Pine Falls, MB. He retired April 30, 2009 as a trackman with 35 years and 5 months of service.
Barry Hartry began his career with CNR on June 16, 1990. He retired November 30, 2008 with 19 years of service. He worked as a conductor in Fort Frances and Rainy River.
Each of the retirees were given an opportunity to say a few words. Some obliged some didnt. Darryl Dyck said, I enjoyed working with you guys. Off we go. Well take the future and God bless all of you.
Most offered their thanks for everyone coming and to all those whom with they worked over the years.
Ian Johnson summed up the feeling from most railroaders, Thanks to my wife and kids for putting up with this job.
Each of the retirees were presented with gifts from the retirement committee. They also received certificates from Howard Hampton, MPP and John Rafferty, MP.
A special tradition continued. Rick Peterson, a local railroader, has been making scroll saw art of locomotives and cabooses for the retirees for a number of years. Retirement committee member Doug Hartnell told the audience that Peterson has made over 200 of them so far. Each retiree received one this year and Peterson also made some for some past retirees that did not get them. They included Gary Armstrong, Sr., Bill Szlauko, Eltjo Wiersema, Don Beyak, Steve Yeryk, Walter Swerbus and Bob Ewald.
Marc Beaudry of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference brought congratulatory remarks on behalf of the union.
After all the formalities were concluded the retirees danced and celebrated to live music.
We coulda had that 55 here. BLE and BMofW were working on it back when we got 30 and 60 thanks to utscrew. utscrew said RRR would go bankrupt if 55 was the retirement age.
It's that retire at 55 thing in Canada, isn't it. Bunch of beginners.
Some of those guys started at 16 pounding spikes. That's enough. Thirty - five years plus paying into the plan. Gives you a chance to walk into the cancer ward on your own locomotion anyways.
